Christchurch - relatively modest cut & cover tunnel could bring commuter and long distance trains right into city centre
A diesel hybrid train in Japan - but under Christchurch city? There IS an option.... This essay © David Welch 2022 [updated from orignial published on this site © 2018 ] "Christchurch Railway Station is too far away from the centre of the business and commercial area". Historic al rese a rch reveals that this w a s a complaint a s f ar b ack a s 1863! Strong criticism w a s expressed even before the city's first station opened on "South Belt" (now "Moorhouse Avenue"). Calls were made for horses to be used to pull the detached railway carriages ( arriving from Heathcote wh arf ) up into the central business area. As researching old newspaper sites will reveal, the distance of the railway station from the centre of the city it has been constant Canterbury grievance for 159 years. In 199 3, and the then privatisation of rail, the city's “central”...